There are many campaign types in Google Ads and Google introduces new campaign formats and also phases out campaign types. Which Google Ads campaign type is the best depends, of course, on the available budget, the advertising goal, and the industry.
Search Campaign
The Search campaign is the classic campaign type of Google Ads where text ads can be placed in the Google search and the Google Search Network. The top revenue search queries should be included as keywords here to ensure they are delivered as well as possible.
Performance Max Campaign
Performance Max is Google's new all-in-one wonder weapon, which is heavily driven by artificial intelligence. Performance Max serves Search, Display, Shopping, YouTube, and Gmail with dynamic ad formats according to performance specifications and is already partially replacing the previous campaign formats. Some Google Ads experts suspect that ReMarketing plays a major role in the good performance results of this campaign type. Not everyone succeeds in a good setup of Performance Max. I have always been able to achieve very good results with Performance Max and am of the opinion that this campaign type should not be missing in any Google Ads account!
ReMarketing Campaign
ReMarketing is the possibility to address a website visitor again with advertising. This function contributes to better performance and can be integrated into all campaign types. Implementation requires compliance with data protection regulations.
Shopping Campaign
The Shopping campaign was for several years the most important campaign type for Retail. The product lists could be marketed very well via the connection of the Merchant Center. In the meantime, Performance Max takes over this function.
Display Campaign
The Display campaign is a phasing-out campaign type that is being replaced by more modern, strongly AI-driven campaign types such as Performance Max and Demand Gen, because they are more effective in achieving goals.
Discovery Campaign
Discovery campaigns have been replaced by Demand Gen campaigns.
App Campaign
With App campaigns, searchers are made aware of your app in Google Play and other Google channels. If the marketing of your app directly contributes to profit, this is a must-have campaign.
Smart Campaign
The Smart campaign type was conceived as Google Ads for small businesses with a small budget. The smart campaign is easier to set up and has limited regional delivery and limited reporting functions.
Companies that can afford SEA freelancers should rely on campaign types like Search and Performance Max.
Video/YouTube Campaign
YouTube or Video campaigns generate attention for your brand with videos. YouTube campaigns are worthwhile for companies that want to grow in their brand awareness and have the corresponding budget. YouTube campaigns are most effective shortly before and at the start of a strong sales period, in order to be in the minds of potential customers at the right time.
A good alternative to the Video campaign is Demand Gen. Despite the high AI component of Demand Gen, there are many setting and reporting options that can lead to a particularly efficient branding effect for your own brand.
Demand Gen Campaign
Demand Gen campaigns generate attention for your brand with images and/or videos. This makes it a so-called branding campaign, which does not lead to quick sales but first only increases the demand for your brand. However, Demand Gen does this very well, as long as you can define your customer base very precisely, e.g., with age, gender, interests, market environment. Let an experienced SEA manager or SEA freelancer help you with this.
If videos are also stored in Demand Gen, they are a major part of the ad serving, so this campaign type can be a better alternative to pure YouTube campaigns.
With Demand Gen, start-ups and established companies can gain market share. If you are only interested in pure sales at a specific CPA or ROAS, you are better served with Search campaigns and Performance Max.
In the following article, you will learn Google's view on how to select the right campaign type.